THE DAY OF SMALL-FLOWERED CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



CHARLES H. TOTTY 



IOR the last five years there has been a marked tendency 

 among average gardeners toward growing fewer of the 

 large-flowering Exhibition Chrysanthemums, and more 

 and more of the improved Pompon and Single types. 

 The very large flowers needing expert attention and careful 

 treatment are, in fact, of small value except for exhibition pur- 

 poses, because enormous blooms are out of proportion in the 



ordinary room. On the other hand, sprays of the small-flowering 

 types, Singles, and Pompons may suitably be used wherever 

 flowers are needed for decoration. 



War-time fuel restrictions did a great deal to wean growers 

 away from the large blooms, since they needed greenhouse 

 protection and a certain amount of heat if they were to be 

 "finished" properly during the month of November. The fall 

 exhibitions in all of the large cities have done a great deal to 

 popularize the Hardy Chrysanthemum during recent years. 



So many worth-while Singles have been introduced during the 

 last six years that even the professional grower who tries to keep 

 up-to-date on the subject is bewildered. Some dealers are still 

 content to catalogue the old-time varieties, not realizing what 

 progress has been made and may be seen at the fall exhibitions 

 in the large cities. Many of the newer varieties have been raised 

 by amateurs outdoors, unsheltered during winter by greenhouse 

 or coldframe so there is no question about their absolute hardi- 

 ness. However, their doing well outdoors is no indication they 

 will not do equally well when grown inside. 



Early frosts sometimes nip the early open flowers of the 

 Chrysanthemum but, if the damaged blooms are removed, the 

 remaining buds that were not affected will produce perfect 

 blooms in due season, even though the thermometer has touched 

 as low as twenty degrees. 



Among recent introductions of the Single I have been particu- 

 larly pleased by the following, all of which have proven their 

 worth in many of the fall gardens in various states, flowering 

 from the last of September until the middle of November unless 

 winter sets in very early. 



Bronze: Bronze Buckingham, Ida Katherine Skiff, Richard 

 Delafield. Pink: Charlotte Waite, Josephine Schlotmann, 

 Stanley Ven, Mrs. Albert Phillips, Mrs. E. H. Wells. 

 Yellow: Golden Mensa, Mrs. Lou Thompson, Vivian 

 Cook. White: Mensa, Millicent Piper, Snowflake, Lily 

 Neville. Scarlet-crimson: Excelsior, Louis Spears, Mrs. 

 Cleary, Phyllis Lawlor. 



For people who have preference for the Improved Pompon 

 type, a selection may be made from : 



Bronze: Adelaide, Bronze Doty, Helena Flint, Anna L. 

 Moran. Yellow: Connie Dick, Golden Climax, Indian 

 Hill. White: Mrs. Francis Bergen, Frances Huckvale, 

 Mariana. Pink: Capt. Cook, Harriet Sykes, Shaker Lady, 

 Nelma Putnam. 



Since they carry the flowering season well into the fall, six 

 weeks or more after every other bloom has been wiped out by 

 heavy frosts, the claim of the Hardy Chrysanthemum hardly 

 needs a boost — cheerful in adversity, blooming sometimes until 

 buried under early snows, it gives a suggestion of persistency and 

 courage conveyed by no other flower. 



A word regarding culture. It is not necessary to have big 

 clumps to get good flowers. As a matter of fact, if young plants 

 from 2.\ inch pots with one or two shoots are set out early in 

 May and pinched several times as the season progresses, they 

 will make larger bushes and give better bloom than if clumps two 

 or three years old, even though well established, are used! The 

 best growers always take up the old plants in the spring, when 

 they begin to grow, and divide several times before replanting. 



In some places the mortality is high 

 in winter, but it is usually due to rot 

 induced by water remaining at the roots. 

 It is always worth while, however, to 

 make replacements in the spring if you 

 do your gardening with an eye to fall 

 effect, and bloom then can only be had 

 by planting now. 



One of the chief charms of 

 the Hardy Chrysanthemum 

 is the great variety of 

 shapes it takes on, ranging 

 from the tightest of little 

 button-balls to flat, spread- 

 ing, daisy-like flowers 



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